The Truth (Discworld 25)

William analysed this. 'Yes, but if I stand where you can't see me, I don't see how any harm could come to me there, either.'

Something sighed. 'Look, meet me halfway here-- No! Don't move!'

'But you said to--'

'Just stand still and shut up and listen, will you?'

'All right.'

'I am hearing where there's a certain dog that people are lookin' for,' said the mystery voice.

'Ah. Yes. The Watch want him, yes. And... ?' William thought he could just make out a slightly darker shape. More importantly, he could smell a Smell, even above the general background odour of the horses.

'Ron?' he said.

'Do I sound like Ron?' said the voice.

'Not... exactly. So who am I talking to?'

'You can call me... Deep Bone.'

'Deep Bone?

'Anything wrong with that?'

'I suppose not. What can I do for you, Mr Bone?'

'Just supposin' someone knew where the doggie was but didn't want to get involved with the Watch?' said the voice of Deep Bone.

'Why not?'

'Let's just say the Watch can be trouble to a certain kind of person, eh? That's one reason.'

'All right.'

'And let's just say there's people around who'd much prefer the little doggie didn't tell what it knew, shall we? The Watch might not take enough care. They're very uncaring about dogs, the Watch.'

'Are they?'

'Oh yes, the Watch fink a dog has no human rights at all. That's another reason.'

'Is there a third reason?'

'Yes. I read in the paper where there's a reward.'

'Ah. Yes?'

'Only it got printed wrong, 'cos it said twenty-five dollars instead of a hundred dollars, see?'

'Oh. I see. But a hundred dollars is a lot of money for a dog, Mr Bone.'

'Not for this dog, if you know what I mean,' said the shadows. 'This dog's got a story to tell.'

'Oh, yes? It's the famous talking dog of Ankh-Morpork, is it?'

Deep Bone growled. 'Dogs can't talk, everyone knows that. But there's them as can understand dog language, if you catch my drift.'

'Werewolves, you mean?'